New Jersey-born lyric tenor Howard Crook worked in theatre and mime before becoming a professional singer after winning prizes in some European vocal competitions. Howard Crook specialized in singing baroque and early music, including acclaimed performances and recordings of music by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Franz Joseph Haydn, and […]

When we think of the tuba, we may first think of an instrument that is large and unwieldy, and is likely to be playing jolly oompah music. Today’s Beautiful Music shows the tuba in a surprising and delightful way. Tuba player Øystein Baadsvik performs the Csárdás by Vittorio Monti, more commonly heard on the violin.

Some peppy music by Antonio Vivaldi is today’s Beautiful Music. Musicians of Les Arts Florissants perform with their founding leader, harpsichordist William Christie. The outdoor performance was filmed on the grounds of Christie’s home and gardens in the remote village of Thiré, France.

The genre of music called bardcore features medieval-style covers of popular music. They are clever and fun, and I love them. So today’s Beautiful Music is the bardcore version of the Earth Wind and Fire song SEPTEMBER. There’s also a link below with an insider’s view of the keyboard part of the song by former

17th century musician Christopher Simpson was a virtuoso viola da gamba player and composer for his instrument. His collection THE MONTHS is a set of 12 fantasias for treble viol, 2 bass viols and basso continuo. Today’s Beautiful Music is the SEPTEMBER fantasia by Simpson, played by viol players Aude-Marie Piloz, Naomi Inoué, Anne-Sophie Eiselé,

Do you enjoy Scottish music? This is your lucky day! Today’s Beautiful Music features a group of brilliant musicians playing a charming mini-concert called THE SCOTTISH TRADITION at the 2023 Festival Dans les Jardins de William Christie in France. These performers are in the inner circle of Les Arts Florissants, the French ensemble founded in

There’s a good chance that you’re unfamiliar with an instrument called “cornet à bouquin.” It’s a wind instrument that originated in the early 16th century. It resembles a long, slightly curved recorder, and it is played with a mouthpiece similar to the type used for a brass instrument. Its sound is unique! Today’s Beautiful Music

LASCIA CH’IO PIANGA (Let me Weep) is an aria from George Frideric Handel’s 1711 opera RINALDO. Today’s Beautiful Music is a tender and delicate performance of LASCIA CH’IO PIANGA by two world-class musicians: soprano Ana Vieira Leite and theorbo player Thomas Dunford. They were recorded yesterday on the grounds at Festival Dans les Jardins de